ABSTRACT
Aluminium has gained itself a place alongside other materials such as brick, concrete, steel and timber as a building material with proven characteristics and behaviour. The unique combination of properties, versatility of form, light weight and durability have made aluminium a building material that is ideal in modern construction. Aluminium’s progress into, and acceptance by, the building industry was hindered in the early years of the metal’s growth in the twentieth century by the dominance of the huge, longer-established steel industry, and aluminium was compared unfavourably – it was softer, more expensive and bent more easily. As a result, aluminium is well-established in a vast number of product areas ranging from major structural applications such as space frames and patent glazing to roofing and cladding, shop fronts, curtain walling, windows and conservatories. The range of alloys available gives the designer of aluminium components a comprehensive choice.
